Patents by Inventor Frank R. Dropps

Frank R. Dropps has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7404020
    Abstract: A fibre channel switch element with an integrated fabric controller on a single chip is provided. The fabric controller including a processor module that can control various switch element functions; a serlizer/de-serializer for converting parallel data to serial data for transmission; an on-chip peripheral bus that allows communication between plural components and the processor module; a processor local bus and an interrupt controller that provides interrupts to the processor module. The integrated fabric controller also includes a flash controller and an external memory controller; an Ethernet controller; a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (“UART”) module that performs serial to parallel conversion and vice-versa; an I2C module that performs serial to parallel and parallel to serial conversion; a general-purpose input/output interface; a real time clock module; an interrupt controller that can receive interrupts inputs from both internal and external sources; and a bridge to an internal PCI bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, William J. Gustafson, Leonard W. Haseman
  • Patent number: 7248580
    Abstract: Hardware-enforced zoning is provided in Fibre Channel switches to protect against breaching of assigned zones in a switch network which can occur with software-based zoning techniques. The invention provides logic for performing a hardware-based validation of the Source ID S_ID of frames both at the point where the frame enters the Fibre Channel fabric, and at the point where the frame leaves the fabric. The S_ID is verified against an inclusion list or table of allowable S_IDs, which can be unique for each fabric port. The invention provides a way to increase the range of sources an inclusion table can express, by implementing wild cards, on an entry-by entry basis. If the S_ID is valid, it will enter the fabric and route normally. If invalid, the frame will not be routed but will be disposed of by the fabric according to FC rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: QLogic Switch Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. George, Frank R. Dropps
  • Patent number: 6898463
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing a device component failure analysis in an implantable medical device using current consumption data. A current consumption signal relating to current consumption in an implantable medical device is generated. The current consumption signal is then processed. A defect of a component in the implantable medical device is assessed in response to the processing of the current consumption signal and appropriate action is taken, such as selecting alternate therapies, generating an alert signal, and turning off circuits corresponding to the assessed defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Dennis A. Brumwell
  • Publication number: 20030179748
    Abstract: Hardware-enforced zoning is provided in Fibre Channel switches to protect against breaching of assigned zones in a switch network which can occur with software-based zoning techniques. The invention provides logic for performing a hardware-based validation of the Source ID S_ID of frames both at the point where the frame enters the Fibre Channel fabric, and at the point where the frame leaves the fabric. The S_ID is verified against an inclusion list or table of allowable S_IDs, which can be unique for each fabric port. The invention provides a way to increase the range of sources an inclusion table can express, by implementing wild cards, on an entry-by entry basis. If the S_ID is valid, it will enter the fabric and route normally. If invalid, the frame will not be routed but will be disposed of by the fabric according to FC rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: William R. George, Frank R. Dropps
  • Publication number: 20030181953
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing a device component failure analysis in an implantable medical device using current consumption data. A current consumption signal relating to current consumption in an implantable medical device is generated. The current consumption signal is then processed. A defect of a component in the implantable medical device is assessed in response to the processing of the current consumption signal and appropriate action is taken, such as selecting alternate therapies, generating an alert signal, and turning off circuits corresponding to the assessed defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Frank R. Dropps, Dennis A. Brumwell